Airlines, including Ryanair and easyJet, have been hit by planned air traffic control strikes in France, causing widespread disruption for thousands of passengers.

Pilotcenter.net News reports that Ryanair spokesperson confirmed the cancellation of 170 flights over two days, affecting over 30,000 travelers. Similarly, easyJet announced the cancellation of 274 flights during the industrial action, while IAG, the owner of British Airways, took measures by deploying larger planes to mitigate disruptions, as mentioned by Sky News.

Vueling, another IAG carrier, acknowledged the need to adjust schedules to minimize the impact of the strikes, stating that the situation demands flexibility. Royal Air Maroc also highlighted disruptions to its flights to and from French airports due to the ATC strikes.

Dublin Airport (DUB) revealed that several flights to mainland Europe had to be canceled on July 3, 2025. A total of 16 flights between Dublin and various European destinations were affected. Passengers were advised to check with their respective airlines for the latest updates on their flights.

In response to the strikes, the French civil aviation agency (DGAC) requested airlines to reduce flights at Paris airports by 25% on July 3, 2025. Different airports, including Nice, Bastia, and Calvi, were asked to decrease flights by varying percentages to cope with the disruptions.

On July 4, 2025, the DGAC further urged multiple airlines to cut flights by 40% at Paris airports. While strikes were planned for both July 3 and 4, only one of the two unions involved was expected to continue industrial action into the second day over working conditions for air traffic controllers.

Expressing frustration over the situation, Ryanair called on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to address the issue urgently. CEO Michael O’Leary criticized the impact of French ATC strikes on European passengers, particularly those merely passing through French airspace en route to their destinations. O’Leary emphasized the unfairness of disrupting overflights, stressing the need for EU-wide reforms in air traffic control services.